Derby County host Bristol Rovers at Pride Park this weekend in a big weekend for those on the periphery of the Play-offs. A win this weekend could give either side a boost that could get them within reach of the Play-offs.
Derby currently sit seventh in League One after 16 games. The Rams have eight wins, three draws and five losses which leaves them on 27 points, equal with sixth place Barnsley and four points behind Peterborough.
In their last five games in all competitions, Derby have three wins, one draw and one loss. A Max Bird brace and a goal from Conor Washington gave Derby the 3 - 0 lead going into halftime. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing grabbed a goal just minutes into the second half to give Derby the 4 - 0 win against Northampton Town. In the First round of the FA Cup, Derby travelled to Crewe Alexandra. Courtney Baker-Richardson and Elliott Nevitt gave Crewe the 2 - 0 lead but late goals from Mendez-Laing and Conor Hourihane rescued a 2 - 2 draw for Derby.
In the Football League Trophy, Derby hosted Wolves’ U21 team. A hat-trick from James Collins and a goal from Tony Weston gave Derby the 4 - 1 win, with an own goal from Eiran Cashin getting Wolves on the scoresheet. Back in League One, a brace from Collins and a goal from Craig Forsyth gave Derby the 3 - 0 win over Barnsley who managed just one shot on target.
The last time out for Derby was a replay against Crewe in the FA Cup. Tom Barkhuizen opened the scoring for Derby in the third minute but a brace from Aaron Rowe and a goal from Mickey Demetriou gave Crewe the 3 - 1 win.
Bristol Rovers sit just two spots below in ninth. In 16 games, Rovers have six wins, five draws and five losses, leaving them on 23 points, four points behind Barnsley and eight points behind Peterborough.
In their last five games in all competitions, Rovers have four wins and one draw. A goal from Chris Martin and a penalty from Antony Evans gave Rovers a 2 - 0 lead over Northampton Town going into halftime. Manny Monthe did score for Northampton but it wasn’t enough as Rovers won 2 - 1. In the First round of the FA Cup, Rovers host Whitby Town. John Marquis, Luke Thomas, Jevani Brown, Evans, Harvey Vale and Collins all scored along with an own goal from Harrison Beeden as Rovers won 7 - 2.
Sam Smith opened the scoring for Reading just before halftime but Martin equalised for Rovers. Both sides had five shots on target, but could not find the back of the net again as the game finished 1 - 1. An own goal from Samuel Lavelle was the only goal of the game as ten-man Bristol Rovers took home a 1 - 0 win even after Tristan Crama’s red card.
The most recent outing for Rovers was against Newport County in the Football League Trophy. Evans’ goal was the only one of the game as Rovers grabbed another 1 - 0 win.
Derby and Bristol Rovers have met 29 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 1953. Derby have the upperhand in the fixture with 13 wins in comparison to Rovers’ nine wins, with the other seven games ending in a draw.